Wave Cap Preachers

I’ve once wondered out loud how come there isn’t any black leadership coming from the black church. With the advent of Donald Trump running a Barry Goldwater presidential campaign (which, if anyone doesn’t have a clue, is racist as hell) I now know why: In short, they can be bought.

Just in case you were wondering, that one highly visible “black preacher” found beside Donald Trump is Reverend Darrell Scott. Yeah.

In this day in age there’s always been a growing disdain for churches, preachers, Christianity and religion overall. My disappointment doesn’t come from the standard-issue black-atheist line of thinking. In fact, I myself identify as a Christian. Being that I study and assess history, I am fully aware of Christianity’s position in Civil Rights, and black America as a whole.

Churches provided the movement with an organized base, as well as leadership largely economically independent of the larger white society. Dr. King would be already skilled in managing resources and people; volunteering, running meetings, managing disagreements, allocation of funding on projects, and other forms of leadership responsibility. The church also provided meeting places where he planned tactics and strategies and collectively committed many to the struggle. ~ On Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, AfroSapiophile, 2013

Despite What You Think, The Black Church was Always There

As I stated before, The Black Church has been instrumental in facilitating the seemingly eternal fight for freedom for Afro-American people. The Black Church has been there for black people ever since the American Institution of Slavery. The Black Church was able to facilitate reading at time when it’s against the law, as well as locations which were black people can congregate, in many cases unsupervised. Because of this, the Black Church was able provide leadership and responsibility roles for black people equivalent to perhaps a corporate business CEO. This leadership ability existed largely independent of white influences, which was the reason why Black Church leaders — from preachers and reverends to ushers and regular church-goers — were able to be at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s.

Christianity isn’t a “white” religion; it’s from Africa.

So what happened? If we were to place a start date on this modern Civil Rights movement today, Civil Rights 2.0 mobilized around the time of George Zimmerman’s murder of Trayvon Martin (Feb 2012). Black Church leader types are, largely, nowhere to be found. Why? The concept of “Black Church” was so powerful on an entity in regards to civil rights, this also includes black religious institutions who are not exactly Christianity based, such as Islam, Five Percenters, and the Nation of Islam (NOI). So what happened?

Money.

One of the problems that killed the black Church’s involvement in Civil Rights is integration. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not on that tip that thinks segregation was so awesome, like some stupid folks. But there were secondary, tertiary effects that did in fact harm the black community. The biggest effect was the effect on black businesses. Black business after segregation, much like black people as a whole, will have to compete with white institutions that were buttressed by white supremacy support that allowed them to exist, many of them for decades, maybe centuries. Long story short, white businesses (people) have more buying power than black businesses (people).

Churches also function like a business, and, black churches much like black businesses were also affected by segregation. From here, we have a problem of interest: black churches prior to segregation only had money from black purses flow through them. Today, simply put, black churches can be bought.

Black churches modern day, especially the mega churches that exist can most certainly be bought by politicians or anyone who needs a strategic endorsement. Donald Trump, punch-clock racist extraordinaire, certainly needs pre-paid black church escorts, and Reverend Darrell Scott, much like many (but not all) black preachers, is hungry for those scooby snacks.

Rev. Darrell Scott, with his Brian Pumper haircut, is a blaring example of the problem with black churches in regards to this modern Civil Rights movement. Darrell Scott, is a “Christian” preaching man who, much like most self-hating black men, isn’t afraid of throwing black people — the very same black community that fills his vault full of coin — under the bus. Dealing with Trump, expect that throw under the bus to be followed by a rope-to-vehicle carcass dragging.

Where Do We Go From Here?

If I were to be radically honest, I’ll have to to add the fact that this isn’t exactly something that’s new; there’s always been those who are more than willing to support white supremacy as a whole. Not making excuses for these folks, I call many of them “surviving America”, as in, it’s easier to survive America by engaging in the large sociological bullying and antagonizing of black people. I theorize, that many black conservatives even, only engage in this bullying because it places them in a more favorable position in regards to white America. I highly doubt that we will see a religious leader step their game up and employ their social-economic capital to the Civil Rights cause once again. Religious leaders, much like most blacks, are comfortable with how things are. People need to not only not choose the easy route and shit on their own, but also embrace choosing the uncomfortable… and fight for actual justice and harmony.

Like this:

The Soul Brother #1 of a Kind. Consequentialist street photographer abolitionist writer/speaker who stands for any oppressed peoples. I do it because every man and woman deserves freedom of thought -- especially black folks.

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21 comments

Bullshit,because the black church as a whole deposit enough money in these white institutions to uplift the black community by purchasing all available property and generate jobs however the black pastors are nothing more than pimps!

I am in agreement with the responses here. From my early childhood,I desired to work with the Black churches and leaders, and, later in life (as I moved around the country with employers) I found most spiritual resistance IN the predominantly Black churches. Too many clicks and hurdles stopping the advancement of Christ to people hungry for the Word of God. Mega churches…no matter the color…are all about how much they can use you to get more money to them, which I don’t mind if the money didn’t go to their family “compounds”, but to the motherless, elderly, fatherless, homeless, down trodden among them-
In the name of Jesus. I meet many people who appear to be seeking a genuine body of believers in Christ, but I never hear from them again! If we indeed are “about our Father’s business”, we would trust Him to bring us together to fulfill His mission. If WE can get of the way, the real church would come forth and we could see “mission accomplished”. I am praying daily that I will get to see God’s plan accomplished in my life-IJN!

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

I’m so grateful for your commentary above Sir. I may be white but I truly understand where you are coming from. I attend an African American Baptist Church. I’m in charge of their Social Media. Do you know how hard it is to get much anyone of color to get on board and do the right thing? It’s like my white self is standing here screaming “Hey they’re starting crap again” and no not one will even reply. Not even the Pastor whom I sent more than a few WAKE UP Emails to. It’s mind blowing that a group who worked so so hard to get what they have can just sit and literally ‘watch’ as it’s systematically taken away. It’s going to happen to all races unless you’re rich$ so we all may as well get ready… ready that is unless you are a Christian and the Lord calls us home prior; which is what I’m praying for! What I’m saying is, I guess until ‘you’ feel the pain, history means nothing to any of us. SAD indeed…..

Sad to say but I would assume most negroes have sold out for a few dollars ! And I really believe that churches are to help those in need in any & every way. Bottom-line, for those Pastors Preachers regular church goers & members ” HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU LOVE GOD WHOM YOU CAN’T SEE 👀, WHEN YOU DON’T LOVE THE BROTHER & SISTER YOU DO SEE 👀”

Great piece! I see a parallel between the state of Black Church today in the US and what the Catholic Church did in the past in my homeland of Quebec, Canada. There’s been a longstanding racism-fueled feud between English Canada and French Canada and the French Canadians attempted to revolt a couple of times (once by force and many times after peacefully) and every single time, the Catholic Church opposed the revolt/protests/movement for change, because they had gained some privileges under British rule and didn’t want to risk those, even if it resulted in great emancipation for their people. They were bought out, not by money but by favors, and they turned on their people in the same way you say that Black Church did.

Love the article. I think the reasons you listed are essentially why recent movements like BLM start through social media rather than the church, like it used to. Not only do communities like Black Twitter decentralize the power, giving everyone a voice, but they also make it harder (though not impossible) for the powers-that-be to influence/control narratives.